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“Oh, God,” Vivien said, looking up at its ankle. “My mother also told me not to date
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the ceiling of the cabin. Phuong had hoped my boss, especially if he’s married.”
for enthusiasm and would have settled for “Your boss? What’s he got to do with this?”
reluctance, confusion, or condescension, but “He said it wasn’t me, it was the economy,”
she was not prepared for the panic on her Vivien cried. “Have you ever heard anything so
sister’s face. “I told her she should have told all stupid?”
of you the truth.” “No,” Phuong said. “No one’s ever broken up
The roller coaster plunged down the tracks, 95 with me before.”
Redefining America
the passengers screaming. When Vivien shifted “It happens to everybody.” Vivien’s eyes
her weight and pulled her hands free, her arm moistened. “So I thought I’d come here. A stupid
peeled away from Phuong’s shoulder with a reason, isn’t it?”
moist suck of sound, the air no cooler than “I thought you came here to see us.” 110
down below. “That too.”
“Who are you talking about?” “Where’s all the money coming from?”
“My mother.” Vivien took a deep breath Phuong could not tabulate how much her sister
and looked once more through the barred had spent, but she knew it was in the thousands
windows. “Did you know that when she came of dollars. Just the gift envelopes alone that
to the States, she told the government she was Vivien had distributed on her first night in
twenty-five?” Saigon held six hundred-dollar bills for Mr. and
“So?” A drop of sweat trickled down the Mrs. Ly, two of the same for Phuong, and one
small of Phuong’s back. each for her brothers. “All the dinners and
“She was thirty.” tickets? The trips to Da Lat and Vung Tau?”
“I can see a woman doing that.” 100 “In America, they pay you extra when they
“My mother also told the government fire you. Even receptionists get a nice check from
she was a widow.” Vivien turned back to meet big companies.” Vivien fumbled in her purse as
Phuong’s gaze. “She wasn’t telling the truth their cabin continued its descent. “I also have
when she told our father I was a doctor.” credit cards. I don’t mind spending money.
Phuong blinked. “You’re not a doctor?” I wanted to show you a good time. You’ve never
“I’m a receptionist without a job. I was let go been anywhere.”
the month before. My mother and my stepfather The park’s most prominent landmark
do not own a house in the suburbs. They live in loomed before them, a mountain painted an
a condo in West Tulsa. And my mother does not alluvial red, hollow and metallic. “It doesn’t
own the Nice Nail Beauty Salon. She works for it matter,” Phuong said. None of it did, neither the
as a beautician.” lies nor the fact that Vivien had everything, even
“Then why tell us you were a doctor?” Phuong’s name, which she didn’t care to use.
“Because you all wanted to know how 105 “You don’t have to be a doctor to sponsor me.”
much I made a month, and what I paid on “Where are my tissues?” Vivien wiped her 115
my mortgage, and how much my car cost. It tears away with her hands.
was easier just to answer than to say I wasn’t a “I won’t bother you.” Phuong touched
doctor. But just so you know, that whole story Vivien on the arm, sticky with perspiration. Their
about me being a pediatrician was my mother’s cabin was nearing the platform. “I’ll find a job.
idea, not mine.” The cabin had reached its I’ll take care of myself. I’ll take care of you.”
zenith. Far below, an elephant the size of a Vivien snapped her purse shut, still crying.
windup toy tottered back and forth, chained by “I’m sorry, Phuong. When I return, I’m putting
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Copyright © 2021 by Bedford, Freeman & Worth High School Publishers. Uncorrected proofs have been used in this sample chapter.
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